Dose reduction in TPF chemotherapy − A retrospective review −

Abstract

We retrospectively reviewed 82 patients with progressive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who were treated with induction chemotherapy using docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-FU in our institute from Apr 2007 to Mar 2012, to determine whether a dose reduction could reduce adverse events, and affect the treatment outcome. The study population included patients who were > 70 years of age who could not continue induction chemotherapy with the standard therapeutic dose due to adverse events. A reduction in the dose that was used in the first cycle seemed to be essential for those patients. A 10% dose reduction of 3 agents (docetaxel, cisplatin, 5-FU) was equivalent to a 20% dose reduction of 2 agents (docetaxel, cisplatin) with regard to the therapeutic effect and the tolerability of adverse events, when the dose amount at the second cycle was reduced after grade IV neutropenia in the first cycle.